Nigeria, May 12 -- Max Air has confirmed that one of its Abuja-Katsina flights made an air return to Abuja on Monday after the crew detected what the airline described as an engine-related anomaly shortly after takeoff.

The development followed multiple passenger accounts shared on social media describing moments of panic onboard the aircraft after loud banging sounds were reportedly heard during the flight.

In a statement issued after the incident, the airline said Flight VM1620, operated with aircraft registration 5N-DAB, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday before the crew observed an indication suggesting an engine malfunction about 15 minutes into the journey.

According to the airline, the pilots imm...